HR Business Partner

The HR Business Partner will provide hands‑on operational HR support and strategic business partnering to leaders and employees across their designated business area. Acting as a trusted advisor to managers, the role will provide expert guidance on employee relations and all aspects of people management, ensuring consistent, fair and legally compliant practices.

Working within a fast‑paced, multi‑site operational environment, the HRBP will balance day‑to‑day HR delivery with a proactive approach to developing people strategies, improving management capability and supporting organisational effectiveness and business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide generalist HR support and advice across the employee lifecycle.
• Build effective relationships with managers and senior leaders to understand business needs and workforce priorities.
• Advise and coach managers on HR policies, employment legislation and people management matters.
• Manage complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, absence and capability issues.
• Lead investigations, formal hearings and sensitive employee relations processes.
• Develop managers’ confidence and capability in managing people issues independently.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies, procedures and employment legislation.
• Work with the wider HR team to review and improve policies, processes and practices.
• Identify workforce trends and employee relations issues, recommending appropriate actions and improvements.
• Maintain effective relationships with trade unions and employee representatives, where applicable.
• Partner with senior leaders to deliver people plans aligned with business objectives.
• Support workforce planning, organisational design, restructuring, recruitment, talent management, reward and employee engagement.
• Support organisational change, including TUPE transfers, restructures and consultation processes.
• Lead and support initiatives relating to organisational culture, leadership development and employee engagement.
• Deliver management training and development to strengthen people management capability.
• Analyse HR data and workforce metrics to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Provide workforce insights and recommendations to support business decisions.
• Contribute to wider HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Person Specification

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or above, or equivalent experience (desirable).
• Proven experience as an HR Business Partner or experienced HR Generalist.
• Experience supporting operational or frontline workforces, ideally within manufacturing, logistics, distribution, retail or similar sectors.
• Strong employee relations experience, including managing complex and sensitive cases independently.
• Good knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Proven ability to advise, coach and influence managers at all levels.
• Experience partnering with senior stakeholders to deliver commercially focused people solutions.
• Experience supporting organisational change, restructuring and workforce planning.
• TUPE experience (desirable).
• Trade union and collective consultation experience (desirable).
• Ability to analyse HR data and use insights to inform decisions.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of operational business needs.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong coaching and relationship‑building abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with hands‑on HR delivery.
• Proactive, pragmatic and solutions‑focused approach.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality.

• Flexibility to travel regularly to other operational locations.

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